Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  worst car ever - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By worst car ever - August 16 - 3:56 am

  I will never buy a VW again. Ever since I bought it I had nothing but problems. After a month or so glove department latch broke and from there everything just went down hill. I spent over $6,000 just maintaining this car. Overall the worst car I have ever owned.

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  My Dream Car!!! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Bill W - August 15 - 10:23 pm

  This is my third Passat, and I love it! The ride and handling are just unbelievable. I thought my last Passat (2003) was really good, but the 2006 is so much better. My wife just got a new Altima. After letting her drive my new car, she said Passat the is so much better than hers. Im really happy with this car!

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  Money Pit - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By jjroadtrip - August 15 - 1:56 pm

  Bought this car used in 2009, drive only highway miles and this car has been nothing but problems. Last year alone it cost me $6500 in repair bills. VW dealers are no help, even with used car warranty it covers nothing.

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  So many problems...so little time - 2003 Volkswagen GTI
  By vwlemon - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I will never buy a Volkswagen again! Let me state that I have ALWAYS had my car serviced at the proper intervals and only at Volkswagen. I have had the window regulators break 3 times, the ignition coils go out twice, and the battery blew up. Also, the car rattles so much that it sounds like it was made in the 70s. I have had my car 13 months and have had to have the car towed 4 times. The sad thing is...VW isnt even apologetic about their quality problems. Potential VW buyers beware, dont buy a VW unless you have all the time in the world and love sitting in a cold, emotionless, flourescent lit VW dealership for hours on end!

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  Fun to Drive - 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Patty321 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I have been very happy with my car, it has been very reliable and I have had not problems with it ever. I would recommend this car for someone who wants a 4 door sports car.

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  Dealer and Reliability Problems - 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By boblewisvwstinks - August 15 - 10:00 am

  The car is a terrific idea. A small, peppy car with good comfort and good handling. Unfortunately, the dealer I bought it from is loaded with a bunch of slimey crooks. Ill never do business with Bob Lewis VW again. For example, the day I bought the car, the parcel shelf under the hatch turned out to be broken. Drove back to the dealership -- where they should have just placed another one in the car no questions asked. The new car delivery guy asks his boss what to do. His reply? Schedule a service appointment. After making a scene, they fixed the problem. Creeps.

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  NICE CAR - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
  By adam sarnik - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I HAVENT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY JETTA. I DONT USE THE CUP HOLDERS OR THE BACK SEAT (ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUES) THE SEATS ARE HARD TO CLEAN. I PLAY MY MONSOON PRETTY LOUD SO I HAVENT HAD THE SOUND ISSUES (FINGERS CROSSED)

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  half and half not creme de la creme - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gypcbug - August 15 - 7:43 am

  My VW was a celebratory purchase after I pd off a 5yr on a "conservative grey" sedan. Happy "new" car for my new home. Luckily, I kept the boring car too. The VW served me well becoming my primary vehicle including a long job commute. Its great for road trips as mpg is great. The fun factor is huge. The exterior looks new even @ 123K. I needed a catalytic converter @ 80K w/a cost of $1200. The trans slips & I was quoted $3K. She will be parked non-op while I live w/my monthly payment. The interior falls apart in plastic chunks, all cup holders are gone & my door pull fell off. The rt window sticks & the trunk latch catches. The air bag light has never been off. Overheating,Oil guzzling baby.

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  great car - 2012 Volkswagen JETTA SPORTWAGEN
  By firstvw - August 14 - 1:37 pm

  I have owned my jetta sportwagen TDI for 4 months and am very happy with it. Great combination of handling and fuel economy. I have averaged 40 mpg over the 4000 miles put on the car so far. I love not having to go to the gas station! Good performance--it hauls a$# when I hit the gas! I dont love the exterior design, but it was a reasonable compromise to get the fuel economy and performance.

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  Bought it yesterday - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
  By bbramely - August 14 - 12:03 pm

  I have been researching cars for about 7 months. I was looking at this, an accord coupe, a g6 gt, and mini cooper s, and so on. I knew that whatever car I got into I would be happy with and I feel content with my lease. I am about to graduate from college and got a great job, so this is my first car in my name. Big experience for me. I am such a car guy so I put a lot of time into this and found that rating for rating, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, i made the right choice.